Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of intraoperative regional lymph-adenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy in resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 187 patients of hilar cholangiocarcinoma who were admitted to Henan University People′s Hospital from January 2014 to January 2018 were collected. There were 105 males and 82 females, aged (57±9)years. Of the 187 patients, 62 patients undergoing hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with extended lymphadenectomy were divided into the extended group, and 125 patients under-going hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with regional lymphadenectomy were divided into the regional group. Observation indicators:(1) propensity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions; (3) follow-up. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribu-tion between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the rank sum test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot calculate survival rate and survival curve. The Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Propen-sity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper value of 0.1. Results:(1) Propen-sity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 187 patients, 104 patients were success-fully matched, with 52 cases in each of the extended group and the regional group. After propensity score matching, the elimination of tumor diameter, neural invasion, Bismuth classification, and TNM staging confounding bias ensured comparability. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions. After pro-pensity score matching, the operation time of the extended group was (341±83)minutes, the number of lymph node dissected was 12.3±4.5, the number of positive lymph node dissected was 2.2±0.7, cases of postoperative new lymphadenectasis was 17. The above indicators of the regional group were (311±73)minutes, 9.2±3.4, 1.5±0.5, 44, respectively. There were significant differences in the above indica-tors between patients of the two groups ( t=-1.99, -3.92, -5.57, χ2=31.18, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. After propensity score matching, all 104 patients were followed up after surgery, with the follow-up time of 29(range, 3-49)months. The postoperative 3-year overall survival rate was 44.2% of the extended group, versus 30.8% of the regional group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=4.41, P<0.05). Conclusions:The perioperative safety of regional lymphadenec-tomy and extended lymphadenectomy in the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma are com-parable. Extended lymphadenectomy can increase the number of positive lymph node detected and improve the postoperative survival rate of patients.

Objective:To develop an artificial intelligence-based model for automated recognition of serum indices using machine vision and deep learning.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study.Serum sample images were collected fromWest China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 21, 2020 to January 20, 2023 using the imaging device of the fully automated sample pre-processing system. A computer random number generator was used to randomly select one whole hour each day, and all serum sample images processed within that hour were included. After excluding samples with unqualified images and missing serum index results, a total of 5, 534 samples were included. These were divided into a training set and a test set in an 8∶2 ratio using Python random shuffle function, and 4, 458 samples were in the training set and 1, 076 samples were in the test set. After manual inspection, the serum regions were annotated using the MATLAB Image Labeler tool and converted into YOLO format, and a YOLO v5-based model was constructed for automatic serum region extraction. The actual values of lipemia index (L-index), hemolysis index (H-index), and icterus index (I-index) were measured using the automatic biochemical analyzerwith matched reagent kits. A serum index regression model was constructed based on the MobileNet v2 network using the PyTorch 1.10.0 framework. The grading performance of the model was evaluated using accuracy, Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Regression performance was assessed using root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), coefficient of determination (R2), and Bland-Altman analysis.Results:The overall accuracy rates for grading L-index, H-index, and I-index were 98.88%, 95.26%, and 92.47%, respectively, with Kappa coefficients of 0.72, 0.72, and 0.59. For L-index, MAE was 5.11, RMSE was 9.77, and R2 was 0.78. For H-index, MAE was 5.18, RMSE was 8.99, and R2 was 0.89. For I-index, MAE was 1.13, RMSE was 3.01, and R2 was 0.71. Bland-Altman analysis showed that 95.5%, 95.1%, and 95.7% of the data points fell within the consistency intervals for L-index, H-index, and I-index, respectively.Conclusion:The study developed an artificial intelligence-based serum index regression modelto estimate serum indices with high efficiency and accuracy. It shows great potential for reducing laboratory costs, improving clinical testing efficiency, and promoting intelligent development in laboratory medicine.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of intraoperative regional lymph-adenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy in resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 187 patients of hilar cholangiocarcinoma who were admitted to Henan University People′s Hospital from January 2014 to January 2018 were collected. There were 105 males and 82 females, aged (57±9)years. Of the 187 patients, 62 patients undergoing hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with extended lymphadenectomy were divided into the extended group, and 125 patients under-going hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection with regional lymphadenectomy were divided into the regional group. Observation indicators:(1) propensity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postoperative conditions; (3) follow-up. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribu-tion between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the rank sum test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot calculate survival rate and survival curve. The Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Propen-sity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method, with the caliper value of 0.1. Results:(1) Propen-sity score matching status and comparison of clinical data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 187 patients, 104 patients were success-fully matched, with 52 cases in each of the extended group and the regional group. After propensity score matching, the elimination of tumor diameter, neural invasion, Bismuth classification, and TNM staging confounding bias ensured comparability. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions. After pro-pensity score matching, the operation time of the extended group was (341±83)minutes, the number of lymph node dissected was 12.3±4.5, the number of positive lymph node dissected was 2.2±0.7, cases of postoperative new lymphadenectasis was 17. The above indicators of the regional group were (311±73)minutes, 9.2±3.4, 1.5±0.5, 44, respectively. There were significant differences in the above indica-tors between patients of the two groups ( t=-1.99, -3.92, -5.57, χ2=31.18, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. After propensity score matching, all 104 patients were followed up after surgery, with the follow-up time of 29(range, 3-49)months. The postoperative 3-year overall survival rate was 44.2% of the extended group, versus 30.8% of the regional group, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=4.41, P<0.05). Conclusions:The perioperative safety of regional lymphadenec-tomy and extended lymphadenectomy in the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma are com-parable. Extended lymphadenectomy can increase the number of positive lymph node detected and improve the postoperative survival rate of patients.

Objective:To develop an artificial intelligence-based model for automated recognition of serum indices using machine vision and deep learning.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study.Serum sample images were collected fromWest China Hospital of Sichuan University from September 21, 2020 to January 20, 2023 using the imaging device of the fully automated sample pre-processing system. A computer random number generator was used to randomly select one whole hour each day, and all serum sample images processed within that hour were included. After excluding samples with unqualified images and missing serum index results, a total of 5, 534 samples were included. These were divided into a training set and a test set in an 8∶2 ratio using Python random shuffle function, and 4, 458 samples were in the training set and 1, 076 samples were in the test set. After manual inspection, the serum regions were annotated using the MATLAB Image Labeler tool and converted into YOLO format, and a YOLO v5-based model was constructed for automatic serum region extraction. The actual values of lipemia index (L-index), hemolysis index (H-index), and icterus index (I-index) were measured using the automatic biochemical analyzerwith matched reagent kits. A serum index regression model was constructed based on the MobileNet v2 network using the PyTorch 1.10.0 framework. The grading performance of the model was evaluated using accuracy, Kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Regression performance was assessed using root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), coefficient of determination (R2), and Bland-Altman analysis.Results:The overall accuracy rates for grading L-index, H-index, and I-index were 98.88%, 95.26%, and 92.47%, respectively, with Kappa coefficients of 0.72, 0.72, and 0.59. For L-index, MAE was 5.11, RMSE was 9.77, and R2 was 0.78. For H-index, MAE was 5.18, RMSE was 8.99, and R2 was 0.89. For I-index, MAE was 1.13, RMSE was 3.01, and R2 was 0.71. Bland-Altman analysis showed that 95.5%, 95.1%, and 95.7% of the data points fell within the consistency intervals for L-index, H-index, and I-index, respectively.Conclusion:The study developed an artificial intelligence-based serum index regression modelto estimate serum indices with high efficiency and accuracy. It shows great potential for reducing laboratory costs, improving clinical testing efficiency, and promoting intelligent development in laboratory medicine.

Epimedin B(EB)is one of the main flavonoid ingredients present in Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.,a traditional herb widely used in China.Our previous study showed that EB was a stronger inducer of melanogenesis and an activator of tyrosinase(TYR).However,the role of EB in melanogenesis and the mechanism underlying the regulation remain unclear.Herein,as an extension to our previous investi-gation,we provide comprehensive evidence of EB-induced pigmentation in vivo and in vitro and eluci-date the melanogenesis mechanism by assessing its effects on the TYR family of proteins(TYRs)in terms of expression,activity,and stability.The results showed that EB increased TYRs expression through microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-mediated p-Akt(referred to as protein kinase B(PKB))/glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)/β-catenin,p-p70 S6 kinase cascades,and protein 38(p38)/mitogen-activated protein(MAP)kinase(MAPK)and extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK)/MAPK pathways,after which EB increased the number of melanosomes and promoted their maturation for melanogenesis in melanoma cells and human primary melanocytes/skin tissues.Furthermore,EB exerted repigmentation by stimulating TYR activity in hydroquinone-and N-phenylthiourea-induced TYR inhibitive models,including melanoma cells,zebrafish,and mice.Finally,EB ameliorated monobenzone-induced depigmentation in vitro and in vivo through the enhancement of TYRs stability by inhibiting TYR misfolding,TYR-related protein 1 formation,and retention in the endoplasmic reticulum and then by downregulating the ubiquitination and proteolysis processes.These data conclude that EB can target TYRs and alter their expression,activity,and stability,thus stimulating their pigmentation function,which might provide a novel rational strategy for hypopigmentation treatment in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of achieving textbook outcome (TO) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and to construct a nomograph model to explore its predictive value in TO.Methods:The clinical data of 205 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated by PD in Henan University People's Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, including 88 males and 117 females with the age of (61.3±9.8) years old. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they achieved TO after surgery: TO group ( n=113) and non-TO group ( n=92). Clinical data such as age, gender, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, blood transfusion volume, pancreatic CT value, and tumor differentiation degree were collected. Logistic regression analysis screened the influencing factors of PD postoperative TO and built a nomogram model. The performance of the nomogram model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration diagram, and decision curve analysis. Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the degree of tumor differentiation was in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (high differentiation to medium differentiation: OR=7.20, 95% CI: 1.20-43.28; high differentiation to low differentiation: OR=16.55, 95% CI: 2.01-136.11), CT value>38.45 Hu ( OR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.13-0.65), blood transfusion volume ≤350 ml ( OR=8.05, 95% CI: 2.94-22.01) and operative time ≤407.5 min ( OR=10.88, 95% CI: 3.90-30.41), the easier it was to achieve TO after PD (all P<0.05). Based on the above influencing factors, a nomogram model of the postoperative effect of PD on TO was established, and the consistency index of this column graph model was 0.863 (95% CI: 0.816-0.911). The sensitivity and specificity of ROC curve were 0.804 and 0.752, respectively. The calibration diagram showed that the calibration curve fits well with the ideal curve, and the decision curve showed that the model had obvious positive net benefit. Conclusion:The degree of tumor differentiation, CT value, blood transfusion volume, and operation time are independent influencing factors for the achievement of TO after PD in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and the nomogram model constructed based on which has good predictive performance for TO.

Objective:To analyze the effect of sarcopenia on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after laparoscopic radical resection.Methods:Clinical data of 165 patients with HCC undergoing laparoscopic radical resection in Henan University People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 122 males and 43 females, aged (55.5±11.4) years. Patients were divided into sarcopenia group ( n=79) and control group (non-sarcopenia, n=86) according to the skeletal muscle index. The survivals were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and were compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were utilized to analyze the effect of sarcopenia on the prognosis of HCC after laparoscopic radical surgery. Results:The 1- and 3-year cumulative survival rates of control group were 96.4% and 81.2%, which were higher than those of the sarcopenia group (83.2% and 48.9%, respectively, χ2=19.67, P<0.001). The 1- and 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates of control group were 88.4% and 66.1%, which were higher than those of sarcopenia group (70.9% and 37.7%, respectively, χ2=18.80, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of recurrence ( HR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.20-1.59, P<0.001) and the risk of death ( HR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.23-3.41, P=0.001) after laparoscopic radical resection for HCC in patients with sarcopenia rises compared to non-sarcopenic patients. Conclusion:Sarcopenia is a risk factor for the survival and recurrence of HCC after laparoscopic radical surgery.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tumor burden score (TBS)combined with preoperative control nutritional status(COUNT)score on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after radical hepatectomy.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of 165 HCC patients who underwent radical hepatectomy at People's Hospital,Henan University from Jan 2017 to Dec 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the prognostic efficacy of TBS-COUNT score.Results:The median follow-up time was 17.0 months . The area under curve (AUC) of TBS-COUNT score for predicting 3-year postoperative survival and recurrence rate of HCC patients was 0.802 and 0.771, respectively ( P<0.05). The 1-,and 3-year cumulative survival rates in low-risk and high-risk groups were 98.65%, 71.62% and 82.42%, 47.76% respectively (all P<0.05). The 1-,and 3-year recurrence free survival rates were 87.84%, 25.68% and 42.86%, 4.40% in the low-risk group and the high-risk group, respectively (all P<0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that TBS-COUNT score is an independent risk factor for post-operative OS ( HR=2.14,95% CI: 1.04-4.42, P=0.040) and RFS ( HR=2.16,95% CI: 1.07-4.35, P=0.032) in HCC patients. Conclusion:TBS-COUNT score is an effective predictor of prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after radical resection.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tumor burden score (TBS)combined with preoperative control nutritional status(COUNT)score on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after radical hepatectomy.Methods:The clinical and follow-up data of 165 HCC patients who underwent radical hepatectomy at People's Hospital,Henan University from Jan 2017 to Dec 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the prognostic efficacy of TBS-COUNT score.Results:The median follow-up time was 17.0 months . The area under curve (AUC) of TBS-COUNT score for predicting 3-year postoperative survival and recurrence rate of HCC patients was 0.802 and 0.771, respectively ( P<0.05). The 1-,and 3-year cumulative survival rates in low-risk and high-risk groups were 98.65%, 71.62% and 82.42%, 47.76% respectively (all P<0.05). The 1-,and 3-year recurrence free survival rates were 87.84%, 25.68% and 42.86%, 4.40% in the low-risk group and the high-risk group, respectively (all P<0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that TBS-COUNT score is an independent risk factor for post-operative OS ( HR=2.14,95% CI: 1.04-4.42, P=0.040) and RFS ( HR=2.16,95% CI: 1.07-4.35, P=0.032) in HCC patients. Conclusion:TBS-COUNT score is an effective predictor of prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after radical resection.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular pathological mechanism of liver metabolic disorder in severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS: The transgenic mice with type Ⅰ SMA (Smn^-/- SMN2^0tg/2tg) and littermate control mice (Smn^+/- SMN2^0tg/2tg) were observed for milk suckling behavior and body weight changes after birth. The mice with type Ⅰ SMA mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of 20% glucose solution or saline (15 μL/12 h), and their survival time was recorded. GO enrichment analysis was performed using the RNA-Seq data of the liver of type Ⅰ SMA and littermate control mice, and the results were verified using quantitative real-time PCR. Bisulfite sequencing was performed to examine CpG island methylation level in Fasn gene promoter region in the liver of the neonatal mice. RESULTS: The neonatal mice with type Ⅰ SMA showed normal milk suckling behavior but had lower body weight than the littermate control mice on the second day after birth. Intraperitoneal injection of glucose solution every 12 h significantly improved the median survival time of type Ⅰ SMA mice from 9±1.3 to 11± 1.5 days (P < 0.05). Analysis of the RNA-Seq data of the liver showed that the expression of the target genes of PPARα related to lipid metabolism and mitochondrial β oxidation were down-regulated in the liver of type Ⅰ SMA mice. Type Ⅰ SMA mice had higher methylation level of the Fasn promoter region in the liver than the littermate control mice (76.44% vs 58.67%). In primary cultures of hepatocytes from type Ⅰ SMA mice, treatment with 5-AzaC significantly up-regulated the expressions of the genes related to lipid metabolism by over 1 fold (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Type Ⅰ SMA mice have liver metabolic disorder, and the down-regulation of the target genes of PPARα related to lipid and glucose metabolism due to persistent DNA methylation contributes to the progression of SMA.
Mice ; Animals ; PPAR alpha ; Liver Diseases ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Body Weight ; Glucose